Marine fouling of offshore installations in the northern Beibu Gulf of China

Marine fouling on two offshore installations, one a buoy investigation station and the other a fixed oil platform, in the northern Beibu Gulf of China was investigated. The fouling communities were primarily composed of tropical and subtropical littoral species, such as algae, hydroids, anemones, bryozoans, acorn barnacles and bivalves. Oysters became the numerically dominant species of the fouling community in time. On the submerged part of the platform, the fouling community was mostly dominated by oysters and acorn barnacles. Of stalked barnacles, only Lepas anatifera and L. anserifera were found in low abundance at the buoy station. The source of fouling organisms and the influence of environmental factors contributing to the distribution of sessile species are also discussed.